Thanks for starting this thread SetterGuy!

I predict you will get a lot of views if you keep posting all of the steps if you choose to continue with the process.



Reducing siltation to your pond is definitely a positive good. But you do not want to lose too much of your incoming water.

How about trying a small experiment first? You could put on your box scraper behind your tractor and fill in the erosion ruts and build a few spots that are perfectly level. (I would make them only wide enough for 2-3 passes with your seed drill.) They also need to be "at grade" so you don't make mini dams and cause wet spots in your field.

The dirty runoff from the bean field after big rain events would slow down when passing through your "grass bands". Hopefully, most of the silt load would be dropped in those areas. Likewise, most of the incoming water should still make it to your pond - rather than being lost to ground infiltration.


** Our local conservation district (in Kansas) actually has a nice no-till grass drill available for rental. You might ask your USDA person about that resource availability in your area.